"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” - Henry David Thoreau

As men, we are often conditioned to suffer in silence. Whether it’s outdated gender roles or societal pressure, phrases like “real men don’t cry” and “suck it up” have long paved over issues with a fresh coat of machismo. We’re supposed to just put it aside and get over our problems. Thankfully, that stigma is changing in recent years as many men are speaking out, breaking this cycle, and effectively changing the ever-evolving public perception of what a “man” is supposed to be.

In fact, many of the most outspoken men in recent times have been those with a platform, including athletes and other celebrities. When our heroes speak out and show just how human they are it shatters the myth that money, fame, and success are some kind of cure-all for mental health. And the importance of that cannot be overstated. Let’s celebrate the men breaking the mold in mental health and propelling us towards a society where candid discussions are not vilified but accepted:

Michael Phelps

When Michael Phelps, widely regarded as the greatest Olympian ever, opened up about his personal battle with depression and even his thoughts of suicide, many were shocked. Here was an athlete that racked up gold medals like us regular humans racked up credit card bills, but still it wasn’t enough. In fact, according to Phelps, it was those Olympic highs that often led to the biggest falls. “You’re at the highest level of sport you can possibly get,” he told USA Today. “Then you’ll want to do something new, something crazy. That high to low can put you in a dark spot." Now, fully retired, Phelps believes he has found his calling in becoming an advocate for mental health. “For the longest time, I thought asking for help was a sign of weakness because that’s kind of what society teaches us. Well, you know what? If someone wants to call me weak for asking for help, that’s their problem. Because I’m saving my own life."

Pictured: Michael Phelps enjoys a day in the sun with his son.

Kevin Love

Earlier this year, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love published a Players’ Tribune article, “Everyone’s Going Through Something,” but little did he know it would become a watershed moment for mental health awareness. Love was prompted to share his experience after suffering from an anxiety attack during a game last fall. For Love, it was a harrowing experience; as he left the bench, he went into the locker room area running around frantically. As Love described: “it was like my body was trying to say to me, ‘You’re about to die.’” Love’s article went viral and sparked general awareness of the issue in sporting circles. Like Phelps, Love was also conditioned to keep his feelings bottled up, as he mentioned in the article: “Growing up, you figure out really quickly how a boy is supposed to act. You learn what it takes to ‘be a man.’ It’s like a playbook: Be strong. Don’t talk about your feelings. Get through it on your own. So for 29 years of my life, I followed that playbook. And look, I’m probably not telling you anything new here,” he wrote. “These values about men and toughness are so ordinary that they’re everywhere . . . and invisible at the same time, surrounding us like air or water. They’re a lot like depression or anxiety in that way.”

It all started with a tweet: “Man this depression get the best of me.” A shockingly honest revelation from a star NBA player in the prime of his career, leading his team to their best regular season record ever. But under the success, DeRozan has been dealing with a lot in the past year. He split from his wife and mother of his children and both of his parents have been dealing with health issues, with his father in particular suffering a stroke and kidney issues in recent years. DeRozan would often fly to L.A. to see him in between games. Despite his usually quiet demeanor, that tweet has had a profound impact not only on Demar’s life but in the entire mental health arena, even prompting the aforementioned Kevin Love to open up about his issues. DeRozan’s openness prompted an outpouring of love from both Toronto and NBA fans alike and the hashtag #wegotyouDemar was soon trending. “I’ve never been one who wanted any type of attention, good nor bad,” he told the Toronto Star. “The response I got from people was so uplifting, positive, refreshing. It’s crazy. It’s crazy. But it made me feel good.”

Pictured: Demar DeRozan, the leading scorer of the Toronto Raptors, takes a call.

Brandon Marshall

NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been outspoken athletes concerning his own issues with mental health, but the fact that he’s been the megaphone for mental health in a sport that preaches machismo and toughness makes it even more important. Marshall has not been shy about exposing his inner demons. A life-long sufferer of bipolar disease, he was only able to acknowledge it after he was diagnosed in 2011. Previously Marshall declined to speak to NFL owners about the issue but after changing his mind, he delivered what he called “the most powerful presentation he’s ever given.”

Marshall has called mental health the “civil rights issue of our generation,” and he believes that it’s only a matter of time before conversations surrounding mental health become more normalized. “Where we are now with mental health is where cancer and HIV were 20 years ago,” Marshall told USA Today.“It’s extremely important for us to have this conversation not just in sports, but in society. It’s important for us to change the narrative.” Marshall isn’t just talking about it either, he’s put action behind is advocacy, founding Project 375, an organization dedicated to eradicating the stigma surrounding mental health by raising awareness.

Pictured: Brandon Marshall poses with his wife.

The Rock

The Rock has become one of the biggest movie stars on the planet in the past few years. His charisma, jovial attitude and trademark smoldering look have not only made him one of the biggest action stars on the planet but a true hero and role model to many. So when he speaks about his mental health issues, it holds even more weight for others struggling. In an interview with Express, he spoke about how he overcame some of the low points in his life, including his mother’s attempted suicide when he was 15 years old and the depression that immediately followed. "I reached a point where I didn't want to do a thing or go anywhere," he said referring to the time immediately after the incident. "I was crying constantly."

Jim Carrey

In the 90s and early 00s, Jim Carrey was a mainstay at the box office as well as in the hearts of the American public. But his somewhat mysterious disappearance from the Hollywood limelight wasn’t by chance: as the pressure of the industry mounted, Carey fell victim to the constant fluctuations in his mood. He initially managed his depression with Prozac but in recent years he’s stopped taking all outside medicine as he tries to avoid the ups and downs that alter his mood. “At this point, I don't have depression. There is not an experience of depression,” he said. "I had that for years, but now, when the rain comes, it rains, but it doesn't stay. It doesn't stay long enough to immerse me and drown me anymore." Carey’s now turned to his early love of art to get his creative high and he believes the process has been therapeutic.

Famous Men Open Up About Mental Illness

Famous Men Open Up About Mental Illness

Terrance Ross

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"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” - Henry David Thoreau

As men, we are often conditioned to suffer in silence. Whether it’s outdated gender roles or societal pressure, phrases like “real men don’t cry” and “suck it up” have long paved over issues with a fresh coat of machismo. We’re supposed to just put it aside and get over our problems. Thankfully, that stigma is changing in recent years as many men are speaking out, breaking this cycle, and effectively changing the ever-evolving public perception of what a “man” is supposed to be.

In fact, many of the most outspoken men in recent times have been those with a platform, including athletes and other celebrities. When our heroes speak out and show just how human they are it shatters the myth that money, fame, and success are some kind of cure-all for mental health. And the importance of that cannot be overstated. Let’s celebrate the men breaking the mold in mental health and propelling us towards a society where candid discussions are not vilified but accepted: